Prescribing generic drugs using a generic name: Are we teaching it right?

Abstract

The Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, state that “Every physician should, as far as possible, prescribe drugs with generic names and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescription and use of drugs.”. Undergraduate medical students are introduced to drug nomenclature early on during their pharmacology course. They are told that generic name or, more appropriately, non-proprietary name (usually international non-proprietary name INN), is to be used while writing prescriptions.